Press release

Jovanov to continue working with Iran youngsters

Branislav Jovanov will lead Iran at both the FIVB Men's Junior and Boys' Youth World Championships later this year

Tehran, Iran, April 12, 2011 – Branislav Jovanov can focus his attention fully on the FIVB Men's Junior and Boys' Youth World Championships after his continuation as head coach of Iran's junior teams was confirmed by the national federation.

Iran have already qualified for both tournaments, with the junior event scheduled for August 1-10 in Brazil and the boys' championship taking place in Argentina from August 19-28.

The president of the Iran Volleyball Federation (IRIVF), Mohammad Reza Davarzani, said of the Serbian coach: "Jovanov is doing great work with the team and we are very pleased to be able to continue our co-operation with him.

"The best way for evaluating the work of a coach is his results, and during all the time that Branislav has served as coach, strength and conditioning coach, fitness coach and analyst in different countries he has achieved good results – a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games [with Yugoslavia's men's team], bronze medal at the 2006 FIVB World League [with Russia], and so on.

"For these reasons, and because we think that he is the right person for the job, we decided that Jovanov should continue working with our national teams."

"I am very pleased with the confidence put in me by the Iran Volleyball Federation," said Jovanov. "I hope that in the coming World Championships we will be able to achieve great results. We will try to maintain our hard work with help of our coaching staff. I am only here to help with the development of the teams and [help] the players to be on the top of the world."